Single action pile hammer



y 5, 1965 J. J. KUPKA 3,193,026

SINGLE ACTION FILE HAMMER Filed Sept. 9, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ticlll. I] G T- EI- 7 Q t 455 I I I INVENTOR. JOHN (A l/UP/(A BY XWM July 6,1965 M. KUPKA 3,193,026

SINGLE ACTION PILE HAMMER Filed Sept. 9, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. (/0/1/1/ d. AUP/(A ATTORNEY Ju y 6 5 J. J. KUPKA 3,193,026

SINGLE ACTION PILE HAMMER Filed Sept. 9, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY y 1965 J. J. KUPKA 3,193,026

SINGLE ACTION PILE HAMMER Filed Sept. 9, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 a Q Q} QM INVENTOR. j-- (/OH/V AUP/(A July 6, 1965 J. J. KUPKA SINGLE ACTION PILE HAMMER 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 9, 1963 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,193,026 SWGLE ACTION FILE HAMMER John I. Knplra, Gladstone, N.J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Horn Pile & Foundation Corp., Merrick, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 307,517 Claims. (Cl. 173-135) The invention herein disclosed relates to reciprocating tools of the pile hammer type.

Objects of the invent-ion have been to provide a single acting form of hammer of simple rugged construction, free of mechanically operated valves or other critical, complicating element-s, capable of withstanding hardy, rough service and adapted for manufacture at low cost.

Further special objects have been to produce this machine in an entirely closed construction adapted for submerged as well as the usual overland operations.

Other desirable objects accomplished by the invention and the novel features of construction, combination and relation of parts through which such objects are effected are set forth and will appear in the course of the following specification.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate a present commercial embodiment of the invention but structure may be modified and changed as regards the immediate illustration, all within the true intent and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

FIG. 1 in the drawings is a vertical, sectional view of one of the hammers with the ram down on the anvil but with pressure on, lifting the differential pistons to maintain the pressure release valve at the foot of the cylinder in closed position for the upstroke of the ram.

FIG. 2 is a similar view but with the ram at the top of its stroke and the pressure relief valve open to release pressure below the descending ram.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged broken sectional view, showing the pressure release valve in the closed position.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, substantially on the plane of line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

'FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on substantially the plane of line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view on substantially the plane of line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the lower cylinder taken on substantially the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 2, with the differential valve removed.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the lower cylinder on substantially the plane of line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

3,193,926 Patented July 6, 1965 ice groove or chamber 18 surrounding the ram and fed from a chest 19 on the side of the cylinder through ports 2% in the wall of the cylinder and flutes or grooves 21 in the side of the ram, which when the ram is down, as in FIG. 1, form by-passes communicating the cylinder ports with the manifolding groove.

The position and longitudinal extent of the flute grooves 21 in the ram thus determines admission and cutoff of motive fluid beneath the ram.

This control may be varied by predetermining the height of the crown on the anvil. With a higher crown the ram will be stopped sooner and at a correspondingly higher level, thus to limit admission of actuating fluid and with a lower crown the stroke of the ram will be correspondingly increased and a greater supply of motive fluid be admitted.

On its upstroke the ram uncovers an exhaust port 22 which opens to an exhaust chest 23 on the side of the cylinder, discharging through outlet 23'.

The drop in pressure occasioned by opening the exhaust port is utilized to eflect release of pressure beneath the ram in the downstroke of the same.

This is accomplished by idiiferential valve mechanism, shown in FIG. 3, as made up of differential pistons 24 and 25 connected by a stem 25 provided with a cam surface 27 acting on a roll 28 on the stem 29 of a pressure release FIG. 9 is a broken vertical sectional view of the fluted cylinder 11 is of corresponding constant diameter and the anvil 12 has an upwardly projecting crown or piston forming portion 13, closing the lower end of the cylinder and forming with the ram and surrounding wall of the cylinder, an expansion chamber 14 beneath the lower end of the ram. The anvil is confined to limited sliding movement in the lower end of the cylinder by links 15 and it is shown as sealed in this relation by chevron packing '15.

Motive fluid, usually steam or compressed air, is supplied to the expansion chamber 14 by a conduit 17 running down the side of the cylinder from a manifolding valve 30 cooperative with valve seats 31 controlling passage between release ports 32 in the lower end of the cylinder and the exhaust chest 23. FIGS. 7 and 8 show these release ports 32 in communication with the exhaust chest 23.

This back pressure release valve is held closed by spring 33 supported by narrow bar 33' and the cam is faced to effect opening of the valve on downward movement f the ditferential pistons. Pressure for operating the lower, larger piston 24 is taken from the expansion chamber at the lower end of the ram by a small passage 34, leading to the lower side of that piston. Pressure for operating the upper, smaller piston 25 is taken from the lower end of the live pressure supply chest 19 by a passage 35 FIG. 4 leading from that chest to the upper side of that piston.

Constant live pressure is thus kept on the smaller piston but the effect of that is overcome by cylinder pressure on the larger piston, up to the time that the exhaust port 22 is opened and cylinder pressure released. When that occurs the pressure on the smaller piston snaps the pistons down and the pressure release valve 30 open and holds the valve in that state for the full downstroke of the ram.

To make certain that the ram will he travelled far enough up to open the exhaust port 22, pressure is bled off from the supply to the small valve piston by a passage 36, shown in FIG. 3, as extending from passage 35 to a position in front of the release valve and hence open to the cylinder by way of the release ports 32. This additional pressure applied to the ram provides the necessary boost to assure the ram uncovering the exhaust port.

A metering screw 37 entered in passage 36 is provided for proper adjustment of this booster effect.

The upper and lower ends of the ram are shown as sealed by piston rings 38, 39 and the intermediate fluted section is shown as sealed by internal, contracting rings 40 contained in a sleeve or cage 41 seated in a cavity 42 in the upper end portion of the lower cylinder section 43.

The upper cylinder section 44, seating in the upper end of the lower section holds this packing ring-cage in place.

The anvil, sealing the lower end of the cylinder and subjected to cylinder pressure, keeps live pressure on the pile, assuring eflicient hammer action.

With this operation it is not necessary to use cushion pads such as heretofore required, constituting at times expensive accessories.

inder may be formed or equipped to drive diiferent kinds of piling.

The upper portion of the anvil projecting up into the cylinder'is shown as guided by a bearing ring 45, seated in the lower end of the cylinder and held by the .lower cylinder head 46 which carries the anvil packing.

The upper and lower cylinder sections, with the upper cylinder head 47 and lower cylinder head 46 are held by tie rods nested in the four corners of the machine.

It is to be noted that the construction is relatively simple and of a design to be produced at reasonable cost.

The ram may be in one continuous piece, of uniform diameter and free of steps or shoulders. Similarly the cylinder bore is of the same uniform diameter with attendant manufacturing and operating advantages.

The absence of mechanically operated valves or other complicated mechanism is .adavntageous because of the freedom from servicing'requirements and the assurance that the machine will continue in operation under adverse handling and operating conditions.

The automatically operating back pressure relief valvemay be made up as a single unit bolted to the side of the to metal to the hammer may be used for underwater operations by simply providing a hose connection from the exhaust chamber to the surface. 7

The compact, complete enclosure. conserves heat, W

from the air compressor, disclosed in, copendingpatent application Serial No. 294,059, filed July 10, 1963, now

Patent 3,138,068 of June 23, 1964, wherein temperature. of Y the compressed air is raised to increase power and prevent icing. v

This hammer is also well designed to operate under th increased power furnished by the'air compressors mentioned.

Another important feature of the invention is that no ballasting of the hammer 'is required for underwater operations.

To maintain constant flow area irrespective of rotary position of the ram in the cylinder, the flutes in the ram With pressure supplied to chest 19 at the inlet 50, the hammer will operate to deliver a rapid succession of blows so long as pressure is on.

With the ram at the bottom of its stroke as in FIGS. 1

and 9, motive. fluid will pass from chamber 19 through flutes 21 in the side of the ram and cylinder ports 20, down through conduit 17 into expansion chamber 14 at the foot of the ram to drive the ram upward.

On the upstroke, the ram uncovers exhaust port 22,

FIG. 2, releasing pressure into exhaust chamber 23 and outlet port 23'.

During upward travel pressure from the expansion chamber is on the lower larger piston 24 of the differential valve by way of passage 34 maintaining this valve in the and passages 49 and 51, FIGS. 3 and 4, but expansion When, however, the ram uncovers exhaust port 22 and thus releases expansion chamber pressure on the lower piston, the live pressure on the upper smaller piston forces the valve downward causing cam 27 to open the relief valve 31 providing escape for remaining compression chamber pressure through relief ports 32, past the valve seats 31 into exhaust chamber 23. V

The pressure release valve remains open for thefull downward-stroke of the ram, allowing a powerful impact, but is closed ator after delivery of the blow by pressure admitted to theexpansion chamber through the flutes in the ram, then registeringwith the portsin the cylinder.

The operation continues so long as the pressure is on and to make certain that the ram rises far enough to uncover the exhaust'port, thus to continue the automatic cycling, pressure bled oil? from that supplied to the upper valve piston by way of passage 36, FIG. 3, and meter valve 37 is admitted'over the head of the then closed release valve 30, through ports 32 into the cylinder beneath the rising ram so as to boost the ram over the exhaust port even when supplied with less than full pressure force.

What is claimed is:

1. A power hammer comprising the combination of an upright working cylinder,

a ram operating in said cylinder,

an anvil for operative engagement by said ram at the lower end of said cylinder,

packing means'sealing said ram and anvil and providingwith the surrounding wall of the cylinder an annular expansion chamber at the lower end of'the ram,

a motive fluid supply chest on the intermediate portion of the cylinder in communication with the ram'op:

1 crating in the cylinder, I a chamber having ports opening to the ram below said supply chest, 1

a conduit extending from said chamber down to said expansion chamber beneath the lower end of the ram,

flutes in the intermediate portion of the ram operating 7 through said pressure supply chamber, positioned to communicate said supply chest with said ports when the ram is in position at the lower end of the cylinder,

said cylinder having an exhaust port in the intermediate portion of the same positioned to be uncovered by the ram in the upstroke movement of the same,

a pressure relief port in the lower portion of the cylinder for relieving pressure from the cylinder on the downstroke of the ram, and

dilferentialpressure valve means subjected to counterbalancing pressures from said expansion chamber and from said supply chest and connected to open said pressure release valve upon pressure drop in the cylinder resulting from the opening of said exhaust port in the upstroke movement of the ram.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which there is a bleed connection extending from said supply chest to said pressure relief port ahead of said pressure relief valve for supplying booster pressure to assist upward travel of the ram necessary to uncover said exhaust port.

3. The invention according to claim 2 with adjustable means for varying the said pressure for boosting. the ram to uncoverthe exhaust port. 7

4. A power hammer comprising the combination of a normally upright cylinder of substantially uniform diameter, I I a ram of substantially uniform diameter reciprocating in said cylinder, 7 an anvil at the lower end of said cylinder in opposition to said ram, 7 packing means sealing said ram and anvil in place forming with the surrounding wall of the cylinder an expansion chamber at the lower end of the ram, a motive fluid supply chest on the cylinder having an outlet port open to said ram,

a feed passage having an inlet port open to the ram and areaoae 5 extending from said inlet port down to said expansion chamber,

said outlet and inlet ports being in separated relation one above the other,

said ram in its reciprocation travelling past said outlet and inlet ports and having a recess in the side of the same of sufficient longitudinal extent to connect said ports and located to register with and connect said ports when the ram is in its lower position whereby to connect said supply chest with said feed passage when the ram is substantially at the end of its downstroke,

said cylinder having an exhaust port positioned to be uncovered by the ram in the upward travel of the ram in the cylinder,

said cylinder having a back pressure relief port in the lower portion of the same below said exhaust port and means for automatically closing off said back pressure relief port on upward travel of the ram in the cylinder and for opening up said back pressure relief port on down travel of the ram in the cylinder.

5. A power hammer comprising the combination of a normally upright cylinder of substantially uniform diameter,

a ram of substantially uniform diameter reciprocating in said cylinder,

an anvil at the lower end of said cylinder in opposition to said ram,

packing means sealing said ram and anvil in place forming with the surrounding wall of the cylinder an expansion chamber at the lower end of the ram,

a motive fluid supply chest on the cylinder having an outlet port open to said ram,

a feed passage having an inlet port open to the ram and extending from said inlet port down to said expansion chamber,

said outlet and inlet ports being in separated relation one above the other,

said ram in its reciprocation travelling past said outlet and inlet ports and having a recess in the side of the same of sufiicient longitudinal extent to connect said ports and located to register with and connect said ports when the ram is in its lower position whereby to connect said supply chest with said feed passage when the rain is substantially at the end of its downstroke,

said cylinder having :an exhaust port positioned to be uncovered by the ram in the upward travel of the ram in the cylinder,

said cylinder having a back pressure relief port in the lower portion of the same below said exhaust port,

means for automatically closing oil said back pressure reiief port on upward travel of the ram in the cylinder and for opening up said back pressure relief port on down travel of the ram in the cylinder, including valve pistons one larger than the other and connected in opposing relation,

a valve controlling said relief port and arranged to be closed by movement of the larger valve piston in opposition to the smaller piston and to be opened by movement of the smaller piston in opposition to the larger piston,

a constant pressure connection from the supply chest to the smaller piston, and

a variable pressure connection from the expansion chamber to the larger piston,

whereby pressure from the expansion chamber will have the effect of holding the pressure relief valve closed during upward travel of the ram and pressure on the smaller piston will be effective to open the relief valve after the ram in its upward travel has opened the exhaust port.

Preferences by the Examiner UNITLD STATES PATENTS 323,053 7/85 McCoy 173135 837,856 12/06 Leineweber 173-135 1,119,462 12/ 14 Skinner et al 91242 1,736,104 11/29 Warrington 173- 134 2,755,783 7/56 Kupka 173134 2,789,540 4/57 Kupka et al 173134 2,904,964 9/59 Kupka 173-134 BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner. 

4. A POWER HAMMER COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A NORMALLY UPRIGHT CYLINDER OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM DIAMETER, A RAM OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM DIAMETER RECIPROCATING IN SAID CYLINDER, AN ANVIL AT THE LOWER END OF SAID CYLINDER IN OPPOSITION TO SAID RAM, PACKING MEANS SEALING SAID RAM AND ANVIL IN PLACE FORMING WITH THE SURROUNDING WALL OF THE CYLINDER AN EXPANSION CHAMBER AT THE LOWER END OF THE RAM, A MOTIVE FLUID SUPPLY CHEST ON THE CYLINDER HAVING AN OUTLET PORT OPEN TO SAID RAM, A FEED PASSAGE HAVING AN INLET PORT OPEN TO THE RAM AND EXTENDING FROM SAID INLET PORT DOWN TO SAID EXPANSION CHAMBER, SAID OUTLET AND INLET PORTS BEING IN SEPARATED RELATION ONE ABOVE THE OTHER, SAID RAM IN ITS RECIPROCATION TRAVELLING PAST SAID OUTLET AND INLET PORTS AND HAVING A RECESS IN THE SIDE OF THE SAME OF SUFFICIENT LONGITUDINAL EXTENT TO CONNECT SAID PORTS AND LOCATED TO REGISTER WITH AND CONNECT SAID PORTS WHEN THE RAM IS IN ITS LOWER POSITION WHEREBY TO CONNECT SAID SUPPLY CHEST WITH SAID FEED PASSAGE WHEN THE RAM IS SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE END OF ITS DOWNSTROKE, SAID CYLINDER HAVING AN EXHAUSAT PORT POSITIONED TO BE UNCOVERED BY THE RAM IN THE UPWARD TRAVEL OF THE RAM IN THE CYLINDER, SAID CYLINDER HAVING A BACK PRESSURE RELIEF PORT IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SAME BELOW SAID EXHAUST PORT AND MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING OFF SAID BACK PRESSURE RELIEF PORT ON UPWARD TRAVEL OF THE RAM IN THE CYLINDER AND FOR OPENING UP SAID BACK PRESSURE RELIEF PORT ON DOWN TRAVEL OF THE RAM IN THE CYLINDER. 